The Transfer Tavern

TT Introduces: Tottenham sensation Rodel Richards

Tottenham supporters in the Transfer Tavern are eagerly anticipating the 2018/19 Premier League season, what with their team seeking to improve upon their third place finish last time round.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men deserve enormous credit for sealing a third successive top four finish in the English top-flight, having finished third in 2016, second in 2017, and of course third again last term. And while Spurs are now regarded as one of the best teams in the country, the North Londoners still seem some way away from sustaining a title challenge given they finished 23 points adrift of champions Manchester City last season, although a few additions here and there could well see Tottenham bridge that gap this time round.

As such, there are many excited and indeed expectant Spurs fans up and down the country, several of whom are wondering who could be the next youngster to break out from the youth ranks into the senior team, whether that be this season or indeed in years to come.

And based on his recent efforts for the Under-18s, and his seemingly insatiable appetite for scoring goals, 17-year-old sensation Rodel Richards could well be set to make the grade at the North London club, and potentially follow in the footsteps of Spurs graduate Harry Kane.

Like Kane, Richards actually began his youth career at Arsenal before moving across North London, yet he has since become a regular in the Tottenham Under-18 team to suggest that big things lay in wait for the 17-year-old.

The forward enjoyed a fine campaign in the South division of the Under-18 Premier League last term in netting seven goals and laying on two assists in 18 appearances for the side, thus helping them to a fourth place finish in the table.

And while he wasn’t quite as prolific as Reo Griffiths, he and Phoenix Patterson were the second highest goal-scorers for the Under-18s to underline how integral and indeed influential Richards was last term, and his goal-scoring didn’t just stop in the league.

In fact, the 17-year-old bagged two hat-tricks in the space of ten days during the 2017/18 season to underline his incredible credentials in front of goal, and having also scored 27 times for the Under-16s the season before, along with 15 in all competitions last term, the similarities with Kane are there for all to see.

24-year-old Kane has gone on to become one of the best strikers in world football during his time at Tottenham and won the Golden Boot at this summer’s World Cup – Richards will surely be looking at emulating the Englishman in the years to come.

And with the similarities already there, the 17-year-old sensation could well follow in Kane’s footsteps in the near future.